The National Trust has warned visitors to avoid part of Formby's dunes after a large fire tore through the gorse and sand dunes. The blaze broke out near Albert Road on Wednesday evening (August 12), with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) sending six fire engines to tackle the "significant" fire.
Fire spread across large area
Firefighters arrived to find an area of around 300 metres by 300 metres alight. The fire later spread across an area approximately 500 metres by 200 metres, with multiple pockets of flames breaking out across the dunes.
Crews used beaters and hoses to fight the flames, with extended hose lines laid across a considerable distance to establish water supplies. Strong winds made conditions difficult as the fire spread through thick gorse.
Drone and additional support
An MFRS drone was also requested to provide crews with a better view of the fire from above. A fire engine from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and an MFRS off-road vehicle also attended.
One witness who saw the fire during its early stages said it appeared to be burning in "three or four separate areas". He told the ECHO: "The fire originally appeared to be burning spaced apart from one another."
"We're at Formby Point Caravan Park, and the park owners are here checking on what’s happening. We think the fire may now be moving away from us, but it has been blazing for hours."
Safety warning and aftermath
A photo taken near Formby beach showed flames spreading across the dunes, with the witness reporting that the fire was "heading over the tops of the dunes now towards the beach".
The fire has since been extinguished, but the National Trust has now warned that the ground affected by the blaze remains a safety risk. In a statement, the National Trust said its ranger team had been working with MFRS to assess the damage following the fire.
It said: "It's still too early to understand the full extent of the fire's impact, but we'll be closely monitoring this ecologically significant habitat and its affected species over the coming months."
"While the fire is now out, the scorched ground will remain hot for several days, so we ask visitors to avoid the area for their own safety."
The National Trust also urged people visiting the Sefton Coast to take extra care during the current hot, dry weather. It asked visitors to ensure cigarettes are fully extinguished and reminded people that barbecues and fires should never be lit on the coast.
The organisation added: "We'd like to thank Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service for their quick response and hard work in containing and extinguishing the fire."
